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Enzymatic pitch control in the kraft pulping and bleaching of Eucalyptus spp.

Scheepers, Gerhardus C. (Gerhardus Coenraad) (2000-03)

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.

Thesis

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The extractive materials in wood often cause pitch problems in pulp mills. During pulping and
bleaching extractives are released from the wood and pulp and later stick to ceramic and metal
parts, forming pitch deposits. Pitch deposits impair both product quality and production rates. It
decreases the efficiency of pulp washing, screening, centrifugal cleaning, and refining, and can
disrupt many paper machine operations. The deposits also break loose from equipment and
cause spots in the final product. There are a few triggering mechanisms that induce pitch
deposition. Hydrodynamic or mechanical shear can destabilise the colloidal pitch emulsion,
causing pitch to agglomerate and deposits to form. Similarly, sudden temperature drops and/or
pH shocks and/or the introduction of water hardness ions from fresh water inlets or showers can
also cause pitch deposits by destabilising the colloidal pitch emulsion. Inorganic salts, such as
calcium carbonate, can catalyse pitch deposition by acting as the building blocks for the sticky
pitch. Calcium ions in the white water can react with fatty acids, forming insoluble, sticky
calcium soaps. Triglycerides have also been shown to be a major contributor to pitch deposition
in kraft pulping and bleaching mills. It forms a sticky deposit to which less sticky particles
attach.
To attain an improved understanding of pitch problems associated with the kraft pulping and
bleaching of Eucalyptus spp., various analyses were done on wood- and pulp extractives and
pitch from a South African kraft pulp mill. High molecular weight compounds (involatile)
constituted a large portion of the extracts and pitch. Approximately 40% of volatile Eucalyptus
grandis extract was f3-sitosterol, with fatty acids (22.8%) and triglycerides (15.5%) also making
a substantial contribution. Fatty acid amides were a prominent fraction of pulp extracts from the
latter stages of bleaching. The amides constituted 38.3% and triglycerides 10.1% to total volatile
pitch deposits.
Lipases hydrolyse triglycerides and could therefore help to reduce pitch problems. Consequently
381 filamentous fungi isolated from indigenous and commercial forests in South Africa were
screened for lipase activity on tributyrin and Tween 80. Eight strains were selected and the
tributyrin and Tween 80 assays were repeated by monitoring lipase activity over a seven-day period. The selected strains were also assayed for their activity toward p-nitrophenyl palmitate.
Ophiostoma piliferum Cartapip 58™ and Phanerochaete chrysosporium BKM-F-1767, two
strains known for respectively their biodepitching and biopulping ability, were' used as controls.
A few of the strains compared well and even outperformed the control strains, indicating their
potential for use in pitch control.
The effect of pretreatment with the eight selected fungal strains on E. grandis wood- and pulp
extractives was determined. Cartapip 58™ and P. chrysosporium BKM-F-1767 were used as
control strains. Several of the strains compared well to the control strains in their ability to
reduce the triglyceride content of wood extract. The South African isolate, white-rot fungus
Phanerochaete psuedomagnoliae nom. prov., reduced triglyceride content significantly.
Consequently it can act as an agent for both biopulping and biodepitching. The treated wood
samples had a lower triglyceride content than the sterile controls. Consequently more
triglycerides would be released into process waters by the sterile controls than the treated
samples. The effect of commerciallipases on deposited brown stock pulp extract was also
evaluated. The lipases did not reduce the triglyceride content of the deposited extract. The
addition of lipases in pulping and bleaching processes would therefore not affect already
deposited pitch.